Something I’ve never fully appreciated in the Psalms until recently is the revealed constant reliance on God of the authors, especially during difficult seasons of life.
It’s truly inspiring to see this, even in a song of lament like Psalm 71 these statements:
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you (v. 4-6, emphasis added).
But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more (v. 14).
The Psalmist boldly proclaims, “You are my hope. My praise is continually of you… I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.” He does this while in the midst of trial! He does this while facing persecution from his enemies.
This is a big deal!
The psalms bring this important lesson—that despite our circumstances, despite our trials, despite our hardships, we can and should continue to praise God for all He is and all He has done—in a way that few writings can.
They show us what faith lived out really looks like:
It’s tangible. It’s deep. It’s all encompassing. And it’s awe-inspiring.
Honestly, who among us, who profess to be followers of Jesus, wouldn’t want a faith like this?
I want it. And by God’s grace, I will proclaim like the Psalmist, “You are my hope! I will hope continually and praise you yet more and more.”
For other entries in this series, please visit the Blogging the Psalms page.
